Jennifer Garner - Today’s Jennifer Garner’s birthday and we’re celebrating by sharing all the interesting facts and insights about this incredibly talented actress.

Jennifer Garner's Birthday 2025 – April 17, 2025

Jennifer Garner, born on April 17, 1972, is a famous American actress. She was raised in Charleston, West Virginia, the birthplace of a prominent character she once portrayed in the series “Alias.” She starred in “13 Going On 30” and Marvel movies such as “Daredevil” (2003) and “Elektra” (2005). Let’s celebrate her special day right here!

Fast Facts

Birth date:

April 17, 1972

Age:

52 years

Zodiac Sign:

Aries

Background

Jennifer Garner was born on April 17, 1972, in Houston, Texas but was raised in Charleston, West Virginia. Her father, William John Garner, was a chemical engineer for Union Carbide. Her mother Patricia Ann taught at a local college. Wanting to follow in her father’s footsteps, she graduated with a degree in chemical engineering. But because she wanted to pursue her dream as an actress, she moved to New York to try her luck in the movies. She worked at a restaurant while appearing in Broadway plays. She had a cameo role in the series “Felicity.” (It was on this show that she met her first husband Scott Foley.) She got her big break in the action thriller “Alias.”Garner’s first lead role was in the widely praised romantic comedy “13 Going on 30.” She played a teenager who found herself trapped in the body of a 30-year-old. Garner chose Gary Winick to direct the film; they continued to look for other projects together until his death in 2011.In 2009, Garner was named an artist ambassador for Save the Children U.S.A. The role includes promoting national literacy, nutrition, and early education. Since 2014, Garner has been a member of the board of trustees of this organization, pushing for early childhood education. As an ambassador, she frequently visits with families involved in the organization’s Early Steps to School Success program, which coaches families on how to help young children learn. In 2014, she signed up with Invest in Us, an early childhood education initiative. In 2015, she appeared in “A Path Appears,” a PBS documentary about rural poverty in West Virginia. She is divorced from Folley and then from actor Ben Affleck to whom she was married for 10 years. She and Affleck have three children.

Career timeline

1995
Garner’s First Movie

She makes her film debut in "Zoya" portraying a young Russian countess who escapes the 1917 revolution and starts a new life in America.

2001
Her Big Break

She appears in the action thriller “Alias,” which airs for five years.

2004
Her First Leading Role

She plays the main character Jenna Rink in “13 Going On 30.”

2006
Her Acting Award

She wins the ‘Favorite Female Action Star’ award at the People's Choice Awards.

2019
Her Voice in an Animated Film

She voices a caring and fun mother of a girl named June in the animated movie "Wonder Park" about an abandoned amusement park where the latter’s imagination comes alive.

2021
Her Netflix Movie

She stars in the Netflix comedy film "Yes Day.

Jennifer Garner FAQs

How old was Jennifer Garner in “13 Going on 30”?

Garner was 32 then.

What does Jennifer Garner do for exercise?

Garner works out with trainer Beth Nicely doing incredibly coordinated box jumps and box squats set to music.

What cookbooks does Jennifer Garner use?

Garner uses the “Barefoot Contessa” cookbooks authored by Ina Garten.

5 Surprising Facts

  1. She can play the sax

    She plays the saxophone; she even made a video playing the instrument to wish actress Reese Witherspoon a happy birthday.

  2. She loved dancing as a child

    She loved dancing so much and was so good at it that she devoted nine years to learning ballet.

  3. She gets into her character

    To prepare for her role in “13 Going on 30” in 2004, she had a sleep-over party with 13-year-olds.

  4. She works hard

    While filming “Daredevil,” Jennifer worked seven days for several weeks, spent Monday to Friday in Los Angeles filming “Alias,” and then flew to New York on weekends to shoot more scenes for “Daredevil.”

  5. She knows martial arts

    Before filming "Alias," Garner learned martial arts and taekwondo and did many of the action sequences herself.

Why We Love Jennifer Garner

  1. She fights for children's rights

    She is a big advocate for the privacy of famous children. She was one of the celebrities who helped pass a bill in 2013 that would protect these children from being harassed by the paparazzi.

  2. She's a kind soul

    She has been named an artist ambassador and trustee for Save the Children. In 2017, she traveled to Texas (where she was born) to help many kids and their families who were victims of Hurricane Harvey. Such a kind and compassionate soul!

  3. She loves to cook

    She's not shy about sharing her favorite recipes on social media. Incidentally, she regularly hosts what she calls "A Pretend Cooking Show" featuring her favorite recipes for fans to enjoy.

Jennifer Garner’s birthday dates

Year Date Day
2023 April 17 Monday
2024 April 17 Wednesday
2025 April 17 Thursday
2026 April 17 Friday
2027 April 17 Saturday